For what it’s worth, I’m still a faithful Catholic.
However, I have gotten into the habit of “giving up” a pint of blood for Lent. It’s a genuine sacrifice AND it actually does someone else some immediate good, in a way that skipping sweets doesn’t.
I try to sacrifice something that I wish to improve upon beyond Lent. The denial will help me think about Christ’s sufferings, etc; but will also improve me for the rest of my life. It’s almost like a new years resolution, which I never set. One year I gave up TV, one year going to bed a couple of hours earlier, and then try to continue that behavior.
My whole family would always give up the same thing. Things I remember were soda, chocolate and TV after 5pm. Made it easy on everyone if whatever we gave up just wasn’t in the house. I remember when it was TV, it started out with everyone gave up all TV. What a terrible idea. I needed my Sports Center before school.
I’m about as far lapsed as can be now. I also didn’t know it was Lent until a coworker mentioned it. I do still like a good fish fry, though.
[QUOTE=Jophiel]
Something better than “I gave up Lent for Lent! Wakka-wakka-wakka!”, I hope.
[/QUOTE]
These two and, “giving up church for lent” comprise the trinity of jokes about sacrificing something unpleasant for lent that must be told in Catholic school classes when the teacher asks what everyone is giving up for lent before anyone gives a serious answer".
In my classes to two biggies were the aforementioned candy, and “annoying your siblings”.
Excellent description!
As a kid, for some reason, our go-to was giving up pop.
In recent years, I have heard many of my fellow Catholics, including clergy, talk about adding in some more outward reflection of faith and service, such as more volunteerism … but that is very clearly meant to be in addition to, not instead of, the more inward spiritual reflection directly related to abstaining from a particular thing.
Growing up in Catholic school in the 70s and early 80s, I was taught to give something up for Lent. In more recent years, there’s been something of a shift to do something good rather than (or in addition to) sacrificing something.
I tend to give up food because it is my worst area. Everything else I am trying to work on all year 'round!
It is a good lesson. We suffer with Him (OK, a tiny fraction of what He did) and with the happiness of Easter we rejoice with Him! “Made like Him, like Him we rise. Ours the Cross, the grave, the skies!”